It remains to be seen if Charlie Sheen will in fact participate in Saturday’s Dash for Detection 5K Walk/Run for Pancreatic Cancer Research in Grant Park. The controversial actor tweeted earlier this month that he would take part, but his status was uncertain at press time.

One celebrity who has been confirmed for the race, however, is Evanston native Joan Cusack. The two-time Oscar nominee will be participating for the second year in a row and, according to the race website, is among the leading fundraisers for Dash for Detection.

What does having Cusack and, possibly, Sheen involved do for a charity event?

“It’s amusing to me to be in the same sentence as Charlie Sheen,” Cusack said over the phone last week. “That doesn’t happen often. I can’t speak for him or ever know how to. I can only say that this is something so personal to me. If it helps people notice (the cause) in any way, that’s very rewarding.”

Saturday’s race will coincide with the nine-year anniversary of the death of Cusack’s father, Richard Cusack, from pancreatic cancer. Proceeds from Saturday’s race will benefit the Michael Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation and the Lustgarten Foundation, which raise awareness about pancreatic cancer and money for early detection research.

Sheen tweeted about his participation in the race after hearing about it from Chicago-based photographer Barb Levant, who has worked with the former “Two and a Half Men” star in the past, according to Rolfe Foundation executive director Lynda Robbins. Robbins was told Sheen would be there if his schedule permits but had not received confirmation as of Tuesday.

Cusack said her brother, actor John Cusack, will not be able to attend because of his filming schedule.

Asked if she will run or walk the 5K, which takes place along the lakefront, Joan Cusack laughed. “I will be sauntering, at best,” she said. “Definitely not running. I never run anything.”